Optical bench

ABSTRACT

An optical bench comprising parallel, horizontal primary and secondary ways and a plate-like carrier seated on and slidable longitudinally along two of the ways. A secondary way is circular in cross section and is provided thereon with a longitudinally slidable collar having an external circumferential groove with side walls perpendicular to the ways. The carrier has a notch providing oppositely facing edges respectively receivable in diametrically opposed portions of the groove and engageable with the inner wall of the groove, such edges of the notch being vertical. With this construction, two of the ways fix the vertical position of the optic axis of an optical element on the carrier, while the notch edges in engagement with the inner wall of the groove in the collar fix the horizontal positions of the optic axis. The side walls of the groove maintain the carrier penpendicular to the ways. In practice, there are two of the circular ways in laterally spaced, parallel relation and each is equipped with at least one of the collars mentioned. One carrier on the optical bench will have its notch in engagement with a collar on one of the circular ways, while the next carrier on the bench will have its notch in engagement with a collar on the other circular way, the configuration of the carriers being such that each carrier clears the collar on the opposite circular way. With this construction, optical elements on the two carriers can be placed in very close proximity to each other.

United States Patent 1 Tubbs OPTICAL BENCH Eldred F. Tubbs, Claremont,Calif.

Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, Calif.

Filed: Apr. 24, 1972 Appl. No.: 246,766

Inventor:

Assignee:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1957 Choiniere et al.248/466 11/1968 Foedisch 248/466 6/1967 Lindberg et a]. 356/256 4/l97lHerman 356/256 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Laser Focus Page ii Aug. 1968 ArdelInst. Ad. Optik pages 680-686 Vol. 21, No. 12 Dec. 1964 OptischerBaukasten F. Aurin.

Primary Examiner -Marion Parsons, Jr. Attorney-Ford W. Harris, Jr. etai.

[57] ABSTRACT An'opticai bench comprising parallel, horizontal primaryand secondary ways and a plate-like carrier seated on and slidablelongitudinally along two of the ways. A secondary way is circular incross section and is provided thereon with a longitudinally slidablecollar having an external circumferential groove with side wallsperpendicular to the ways. The carrier has a notch providing oppositelyfacing edges respectively receivable in diametrically opposed portionsof the groove and engageable with the inner wall of the groove, suchedges of the notch being vertical. With this construction, two of theways fix the vertical position of the optic axis of an optical elementon the carrier, while the notch edges in engagement with the inner wallof the groove in the collar fix the horizontal positions of the opticaxis. The side walls of the groove maintain the carrier penpendicular tothe ways.

with a collar on the other circular way, the

configuration of the carriers being such that each carrier clears thecollar on the opposite circular way. With this construction, opticalelements on the two carriers can be placed in very close proximity toeach other.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures OPTICAL BENCH BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Thepresent invention relates in general to the optical bench art and, moreparticularly, to a horizontal optical bench capable of having aplurality of optical element carriers mounted thereon with the opticaxes of the carriers coinciding with the optic axis of the bench.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION Important general objects of theinvention are to provide an optical bench wherein optical elementsmounted on adjacent carriers may be positioned in very close proximityto each other along the optic axis, and wherein the carriers may beinstalled and removed, or reversed in position, quickly and easily.

More particularly, a primary object of the invention is to provide anoptical bench which includes, and the invention may be summarized asincluding: parallel, horizontal primary and secondary ways; an opticalelement carrier seated on and slidable longitudinally of two of theways; one of the ways being circular in cross section and having thereona longitudinally slidable collar provided with an externalcircumferential groove with side walls perpendicular to the ways; andthe carrier having a notch providing oppositely facing edgesrespectively receivable in diametrically opposed portions of the grooveand engageable with the inner wall of the groove, the edges of the notchbeing vertical. With this construction, the two ways on which thecarrier is seated fix the vertical position of the optic axis, and theopposed edges of the notch fix the horizontal position of the opticaxis. The side walls of the groove in the collar maintain the carrier,which is preferably a flatplate, perpendicular to the ways. Y

As will be apparent, the carrier may be installed and removed quicklyand easily with the foregoing construction, which is an importantfeature of the invention.

Another object is to provide an optical bench of the foregoing naturewherein there are two ways of circular cross section in laterallyspaced, parallel relation, each circular way being provided thereon withone or more of the collars mentioned. Adjacent carriers are positionedwith their notches in engagement with collars on the respective circularways, each carrier clearing the collar or collars on the oppositecircular way. With this construction, adjacent optical elements may bebrought into very close proximity, which is an important feature of theinvention.

An object in connection with one embodiment of the invention is toprovide an optical bench of the foregoing nature wherein there are twoprimary ways supporting the carriers, and two circular ways havingcollars engageable by the carrier notches. A related object is toprovide rectangular primary ways on which the carriers are seated, suchrectangular ways being oriented with their longer cross sectiondimensions vertical.

An object in connection with another embodiment is to provide a singleprimary way on which each carrier is seated, the inner end of the notchin each carrier in this instance being seated on the inner wall of thecircumferentialgroove in a collar on the circular way. Thus, thecircular way in this instance assists the primary w'ay in fixing thevertical position of the optic axis, the circular way also fixingthe'horizontal position of the optic-axis.

Yet another object is to provide a construction wherein each carrier issymmetrical about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the optic axis.Thus, each carrier has two oppositely oriented notches one capable ofengaging a collar on one circular way and the other capable of engaginga collar on the other circular way, opposite edges of the carrier beingselectively seatable on the rectangular primary way or ways. Thus, eachcarrier may readily be reversed in position.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a fixture formounting an optical element on the carrier, comprising a turntablehaving a vertical axis of rotation and upstanding bosses on theturntable simulating the ways of the optical bench and against which thecarrier is seatable.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the presentinvention, together with various other objects, advantages, features andresults which will be evident to those skilled in the optical bench artin the light of this disclosure, may be achieved with the exemplaryembodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand described in detail hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an optical bench which embodies the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the optical bench shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the arrowedline 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated bythe arrowed line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing an alternativeembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 5, but showing anotheralternative;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a fixture for centering an optical element on acarrier of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a fixture for centering an optical element on acarrier of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION Referring initially toFIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, illustrated therein is an optical bench 10of the invention which includes longitudinally spaced supports 12carrying parallel, horizontal primary and secondary ways 14 and 16,there being two of each in. the embodiment under consideration. Theprimary ways 14 are rectangular and have their longer cross sectionaldimensions vertical for maximum stiffness in the vertical direction. Thesecondary ways 16 are disposed laterally outwardly of and above theprimary ways 14 on upward extensions 17 of the supports 12, and arecircular in cross section.

On and slidable longitudinally of the circular ways 16 are cylindricalcollars 18 respectively provided therein with external circumferentialgrooves 20 which are relatively narrow as compared to their depth andthe side walls of which are perpendicular to the ways 14 and 16.

The optical bench 10 includes plate-like carriers 22 adapted to supportoptical elements 24 with their optic axes coinciding with the optic axis26 of the bench. The optic axis 26 is located above the ways 14 and theways 16, these ways being symmetrical about a vertical plane containingthe optic axis.

Each carrier 22 has opposed horizontal, primary edges 28 seatable on andslidable longitudinally along the rectangular ways 14, thereby fixingthe vertical position of the optic axis 26. The primary edges 28 of eachcarrier 22 respectively have opposed notches 30 each having oppositelyfacing edges 32 perpendicular to the primary edges 28 of the carrier.The opposed edges 32 of the notches 30 are aligned, as will be clearfrom FIG. 3 of the drawings.

The opposed edges 32 of each notch 30 are receivable in the groove inone of the collars l8. Either notch 30 may receive the grooved portionof a collar 18 on either circular way 16, by simply reversing thecarrier.

As previously indicated, a primary edge 28 of each carrier 22 cooperateswith the rectangular ways 14 to fix the vertical position of the opticaxis 26. The edges 32 of a notch 30 in each carrier 22 cooperate with acollar 18 on one of the circular ways 16 to fix the horizontal positionof the'optic axis 26, the notch edges 32 being engageable with the innerwall of the corresponding groove 20 to accomplish this. It will beunderstood that the width of each notch 30 is only very slightly greaterthan the diameter of the inner wall of each groove 20. The thickness ofeach carrier 22 is very slightly less than the width of each groove 20,whereby the side walls of the groove maintain the carrier perpendicularto the ways 14 and 16 automatically.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the carriers 22 may beinstalled very readily simply by placing them on the ways 14 with theedges of corresponding notches 30 in corresponding collar grooves 20.Similarly, the carriers may be reversed in position readily. In otherwords, the carriers may be turned 180 in transverse planes to engagethem with collars 18 on the opposite circular way 16. Also, they may beturned over so that the opposite primary edge 28 and notch 30 of eachengages the primary ways 14 and a collar on the same circular way.

To insure that only the rectangular ways 14 enter into fixing thevertical position of the optic axis 26, the notches 30 are deep enoughthat the inner ends thereof do not engage the inner walls of the collargrooves 20. In other words, only the opposed edges 32 of the notches 30engage the inner walls of the grooves 20 in the collars 18. FIG. 4illustrates how the inner end of a notch 30 clears the inner wall of acollar groove 20.

As perhaps best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the portion of eachcarrier 22 opposite that which is in engagement with a collar 18 clearsthe opposite circular way 16. Consequently, two collars 18 can bepositioned on the respective circular ways 16 substantially oppositeeach other, with two adjacent carriers 22 in engagement with the twosubstantially opposite collars. This construction permits placing two ofthe optical elements 24 in very close proximity to each other along theoptic axis 26, as shown at the right ends of FIGS. 1 and 2, wheneverthis is necessary or desirable, which is an important feature of theinvention.

As also shown at the right ends of FIGS. 1 and 2, at least some of thecollars 18 may be positioned with their grooved ends adjacent eachother. By utilizing a pair of adjacent grooves 20 on each way 16, asmany as four optical elements 24 may be positioned in closely spacedrelation.

Referring to FIG. 1, tthe support extensions 17 of each pair arelongitudinally staggered. Thus, the grooves 20 in collars 18 on the ways16 can be positioned more nearly opposite each other to obtain closespacings of the elements 24 above the supports 12, should this benecessary for a particular set up.

It will also be noted from FIG. 3 that each carrier 22 clears thesupport extension 17 for the way 16 opposite the way 16 which guides thecarrier. This, in combination with the longitudinal staggering of thesupport extensions 17, eliminates any dead spots.

Turning to FIG. 5 of the drawings, illustrated therein is an opticalbench which is similar to the bench 10. Consequently, the components ofthe optical bench 110 will be identified by reference numerals higher by100 than those utilized for corresponding components of the bench 10.

In the optical bench 110, there is but one of the rectangular primaryways 114, this way being symmetrical about a vertical plane containingthe optic axis 126. The vertical position of the optic axis 126 is fixedby engagement of one of the primary edges 128 of each carrier 122 withthe rectangular way 114, and by engagement of the inner end of thecorresponding notch 130 with the inner wall of the corresponding collargroove 120. As in the previous embodiment, the horizontal position ofthe optic axis 126 is fixed by engagement of the opposed edges 132 ofthe notch 130 with diammetrically opposed portions of the inner wall ofthe collar groove 120.

FIG. 6 illustrates a construction similar to that of FIG. 5, except thatthe narrow rectangular way 114 is replaced by a wide, substantiallysquare way 114a.

In FIG. 7 of the drawings is illustrated a fixture for mounting anoptical element 24 on one of the carriers 22. This fixture comprises ahorizontal turntable 40 which is rotatable about a vertical axis and onwhich the carrier 22 may be placed. Projecting upwardly from theturntable 40 are rectangular bosses 44 simulating the rectangular ways14, and a cylindrical boss 46 simulating the inner wall of one of thecollar grooves 20. The carrier 22 is placed on the turntable 40 with aprimary edge 28 thereof seated against the bosses 44, and with the boss46 in the corresponding notch 30, as shown. The optical element 24 isthen placed on the carrier 22 and positioned so that its axis coincideswith the axis of rotation. The optical or mechanical tests required toplace the axis of the optical element 24 in coincidence with the axis ofthe turntable 40 are well known to those skilled in this art and neednot be described. After properly locating the optical element 24, it issuitably secured to the carrier 22 and, when the carrier is mounted onthe optical bench 10, the axis of the optical element will coincide withthe optic axis 26. It will be understood that if the optical element 24is a transmitting element, the carrier 22 is provided with a suitablewindow therethrough.

In FIG. 8 is shown a fixture for locating an optical element 124 on acarrier 122 of the optical bench 110.

a This fixture includes a turntable having a rectangular boss 144simulating the way 114, and a cylindrical boss 146 simulating the innerwall of one of the collar grooves 120. The fixture of FIG. 7 is utilizedin a manner similar to that of FIG. 6.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed forpurposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes,modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodimentswithout departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by theclaims appearing hereinafter.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an optical bench, the combination of:

a. two parallel horizontal ways;

b. an optical element carrier having a first edge seatable on andslidable longitudinally of one of said ways;

c. a slide on and movable longitudinally'of the other of said ways andhaving oppositely facing groove portions the side walls of which areperpendicular to said ways; and

d. said carrier having oppositely facing edges respectively receivablein said groove portions and respectively engageable with the inner wallsthereof.

2. In an optical bench, the combination of:

a. parallel, horizontal primary and secondary ways;

b. an optical element carrier having a primary edge seatable on saidprimary way and slidable longitudinally of said primary way;

c. said secondary way being circular in cross section;

a d. a collar slidable longitudinally of said secondary way and havingtherein an external circumferential groove with side walls perpendicularto said ways;

e. said carrier having a notch providing oppositely facing' edgesrespectively receivable in diametrically opposed portions of said grooveand engageable with the inner wall of said groove; and

f. said oppositely facing edges of said notch being perpendicular tosaid primary edge of said carrier.

3. An optical bench as set forth in claim 2 wherein the inner end ofsaid notch is seatable on the inner wall of said groove in said collar.

4. An optical bench according to claim 2 wherein there are two of saidprimary ways in parallel horizontal relation, said primary edge of saidcarrier being seatable on both of said primary ways.

5. An optical bench as defined in claim 4 wherein there are two of saidsecondary ways respectively disposed on opposite sides of and above saidprimary ways, each of said secondary ways having one of said collarsthereon, said oppositely facing edges in said notch of said carrierbeing receivable in said groove in either of said collars.

6. An optical bench according to claim 5 wherein said carrier isprovided with two of said primary edges on opposite sides thereof, andis provided with two of said notches on opposite sides thereof, eitherof said primary edges being seatable on said primary ways, and theoppositely facing edges of either of said notches being receivable insaid groove in either of said collars.

7. An optical bench as set forth in claim 4 wherein said primary waysare rectangular in cross section with their longer cross sectionaldimensions vertical.

8. An optical bench as defined in claim 2 wherein said carrier is aplate having an edge which defines said primary edge and in which saidnotch is formed.

9. A fixture for mounting an optical element on said carrier of claim 2,including:

a. a turntable having a vertical axis of rotation;

b. a primary boss on the upper surface of said turntable correspondingto said primary way and engageable by said primary edge of said carrier;and

c. a secondary boss of circular cross section on the upper surface ofsaid turntable and corresponding to said secondary way and havingdiametrically opposed portions respectively engageable by saidoppositely facing edges of said notch in said carrier.

1. In an opticaL bench, the combination of: a. two parallel horizontalways; b. an optical element carrier having a first edge seatable on andslidable longitudinally of one of said ways; c. a slide on and movablelongitudinally of the other of said ways and having oppositely facinggroove portions the side walls of which are perpendicular to said ways;and d. said carrier having oppositely facing edges respectivelyreceivable in said groove portions and respectively engageable with theinner walls thereof.
 2. In an optical bench, the combination of: a.parallel, horizontal primary and secondary ways; b. an optical elementcarrier having a primary edge seatable on said primary way and slidablelongitudinally of said primary way; c. said secondary way being circularin cross section; d. a collar slidable longitudinally of said secondaryway and having therein an external circumferential groove with sidewalls perpendicular to said ways; e. said carrier having a notchproviding oppositely facing edges respectively receivable indiametrically opposed portions of said groove and engageable with theinner wall of said groove; and f. said oppositely facing edges of saidnotch being perpendicular to said primary edge of said carrier.
 3. Anoptical bench as set forth in claim 2 wherein the inner end of saidnotch is seatable on the inner wall of said groove in said collar.
 4. Anoptical bench according to claim 2 wherein there are two of said primaryways in parallel horizontal relation, said primary edge of said carrierbeing seatable on both of said primary ways.
 5. An optical bench asdefined in claim 4 wherein there are two of said secondary waysrespectively disposed on opposite sides of and above said primary ways,each of said secondary ways having one of said collars thereon, saidoppositely facing edges in said notch of said carrier being receivablein said groove in either of said collars.
 6. An optical bench accordingto claim 5 wherein said carrier is provided with two of said primaryedges on opposite sides thereof, and is provided with two of saidnotches on opposite sides thereof, either of said primary edges beingseatable on said primary ways, and the oppositely facing edges of eitherof said notches being receivable in said groove in either of saidcollars.
 7. An optical bench as set forth in claim 4 wherein saidprimary ways are rectangular in cross section with their longer crosssectional dimensions vertical.
 8. An optical bench as defined in claim 2wherein said carrier is a plate having an edge which defines saidprimary edge and in which said notch is formed.
 9. A fixture formounting an optical element on said carrier of claim 2, including: a. aturntable having a vertical axis of rotation; b. a primary boss on theupper surface of said turntable corresponding to said primary way andengageable by said primary edge of said carrier; and c. a secondary bossof circular cross section on the upper surface of said turntable andcorresponding to said secondary way and having diametrically opposedportions respectively engageable by said oppositely facing edges of saidnotch in said carrier.